Why

Plain cooked rice, white or brown, is a safe and harmless occasional filler for budgies. It is gentle on the digestion and handy for tempting a fussy bird, though it is fairly plain nutritionally, so it should never crowd out fresh vegetables or a good staple diet. The old myth that uncooked rice swells up and harms birds is simply not true, but cooked grains are softer and easier for a little budgie to manage, so cooked is the sensible way to serve it.

How to feed it

Boil rice in plain water with no salt, butter, oil or stock, then rinse and cool it completely before offering. Serve a small spoonful loose in a dish, or press a few grains where your budgie can reach them. Brown rice adds a little more fibre. Remove leftovers within a couple of hours as cooked rice spoils quickly.

How much & how often

A teaspoon or so of plain cooked rice a couple of times a week is ample. It is a light extra alongside proper food, not a meal in itself, so keep portions modest.